German stocks - Factors to watch on March 2

BERLIN/FRANKFURT, March 2 (Reuters) - The DAX top-30 index looked set to open 0.1 percent higher on Thursday, according to premarket data from brokerage Lang & Schwarz at 0706 GMT.

The following are some of the factors that may move German stocks:

GLOBAL TRADE

U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration said on Wednesday that it will take aggressive action to combat other countries’ unfair trade practices and may defy World Trade Organization rulings that it views as interfering with U.S. sovereignty.

U.S. FED

An improving global economy and a solid U.S. recovery mean it will be “appropriate soon” for the Federal Reserve to raise U.S. interest rates Fed Governor Lael Brainard said on Wednesday, adding an important voice to the chorus of officials signaling rates may rise as soon as mid-March.

ALLIANZ

Indicated 0.1 percent lower

The insurer is close to striking a deal with Indian construction player Shapoorji Pallonji for around $400 million, the Financial Express reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

Also, its Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty business plans to cut its workforce of currently 5,000 by around 10 percent by end-2018 in response to fierce competition, Boersen-Zeitung reported, citing company sources. Nearly all the cuts are to be in Germany, it said.

AUTOS

BMW indicated unchanged

Daimler indicated 0.1 percent higher

Volkswagen indicated 0.2 percent higher

Carmakers reported February U.S. sales late on Wednesday. VW’s deliveries were up 12.7 percent, those of Audi rose by 17 percent. BMW sales fell 2.5 percent, while Mercedes and Smart were up 6.8 percent.

Separately, German monthly new car registration figures expected.

Also, a U.S. federal judge set for April 18 in Detroit the trial of a former Volkswagen executive charged with crimes related to the company’s massive diesel emissions scandal.

And Caixin reported, citing ministry sources, that China will revise its draft policy to change the proportion of new energy vehicles automakers must sell after meetings between Chinese and German officials, although exact changes have not been determined.